At one point, we were passed from general Level3 servers over to Facebook’s own Level3 servers (as signified by the subdomains facebook-in.edge2 and facebook-in.edge3.

Then we were handed off to tfbnw.net, and that is where the problem seems to begin. Do you see those entries that are nothing but asterisks (stars)? Like this?:

23 * * *
24 * * *
25 * * *
26 * * *
27 * * *
28 * * *
29 * * *

Those usually (not always, but usually) signify a timeout, meaning that the next hop has failed to respond. This is why when trying to reach Facebook right now, your browser may just hang, and never get there.

Now, it will not always be the case that if you run into this problem you will not be able to get to your intended destination on the web, because it could be that the hop that is hanging up and timing out may be one of many hops that are not related to your intended destination, but are merely mid-way points.

However, in this case, tfbnw.net is actually under Facebook’s control, and so the odds are more likely that, unless your request to go to Facebook.com is routed through another of Facebook’s own real estate, that you will have a problem trying to get to Facebook. Here is a “whois” lookup for tfbnw.net, showing that it either belongs to Facebook or, at least, is under Facebook’s control:

$ whois tfbnw.net

Whois Server Version 2.0

Domain names in the .com and .net domains can now be registered
with many different competing registrars. Go to http://www.internic.net
for detailed information.

Domain Name: TFBNW.NET
Registrar: MARKMONITOR INC.
Whois Server: whois.markmonitor.com
Referral URL: https://web.archive.org/web/20230328083853/https://www.markmonitor.com/
Name Server: NS3.FACEBOOK.COM
Name Server: NS4.FACEBOOK.COM
Name Server: NS5.FACEBOOK.COM
Name Server: NS6.FACEBOOK.COM
Name Server: NS7.FACEBOOK.COM
Status: clientDeleteProhibited
Status: clientTransferProhibited
Status: clientUpdateProhibited
Status: serverDeleteProhibited
Status: serverTransferProhibited
Status: serverUpdateProhibited
Updated Date: 15-sep-2010
Creation Date: 17-dec-2004
Expiration Date: 17-dec-2019

>>> Last update of whois database: Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:30:02 UTC < << NOTICE: The expiration date displayed in this record is the date the registrar's sponsorship of the domain name registration in the registry is currently set to expire. This date does not necessarily reflect the expiration date of the domain name registrant's agreement with the sponsoring registrar. Users may consult the sponsoring registrar's Whois database to view the registrar's reported date of expiration for this registration. TERMS OF USE: You are not authorized to access or query our Whois database through the use of electronic processes that are high-volume and automated except as reasonably necessary to register domain names or modify existing registrations; the Data in VeriSign Global Registry Services' ("VeriSign") Whois database is provided by VeriSign for information purposes only, and to assist persons in obtaining information about or related to a domain name registration record. VeriSign does not guarantee its accuracy. By submitting a Whois query, you agree to abide by the following terms of use: You agree that you may use this Data only for lawful purposes and that under no circumstances will you use this Data to: (1) allow, enable, or otherwise support the transmission of mass unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations via e-mail, telephone, or facsimile; or (2) enable high volume, automated, electronic processes that apply to VeriSign (or its computer systems). The compilation, repackaging, dissemination or other use of this Data is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of VeriSign. You agree not to use electronic processes that are automated and high-volume to access or query the Whois database except as reasonably necessary to register domain names or modify existing registrations. VeriSign reserves the right to restrict your access to the Whois database in its sole discretion to ensure operational stability. VeriSign may restrict or terminate your access to the Whois database for failure to abide by these terms of use. VeriSign reserves the right to modify these terms at any time. The Registry database contains ONLY .COM, .NET, .EDU domains and Registrars. MarkMonitor is the Global Leader in Enterprise Brand Protection. Domain Management MarkMonitor Brand Protection™ AntiFraud Solutions Corporate Consulting Services Visit MarkMonitor at www.markmonitor.com Contact us at 1 800 745 9229 In Europe, at +44 (0) 20 7840 1300 The Data in MarkMonitor.com's WHOIS database is provided by MarkMonitor.com for information purposes, and to assist persons in obtaining information about or related to a domain name registration record. MarkMonitor.com does not guarantee its accuracy. By submitting a WHOIS query, you agree that you will use this Data only for lawful purposes and that, under no circumstances will you use this Data to: (1) allow, enable, or otherwise support the transmission of mass unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations via e-mail (spam); or (2) enable high volume, automated, electronic processes that apply to MarkMonitor.com (or its systems). MarkMonitor.com reserves the right to modify these terms at any time. By submitting this query, you agree to abide by this policy. Registrant: Domain Administrator Facebook, Inc. 1601 S. California Ave Palo Alto CA 94304 US domain@fb.com +1.6505434800 Fax: +1.6505434800 Domain Name: tfbnw.net Registrar Name: Markmonitor.com Registrar Whois: whois.markmonitor.com Registrar Homepage: https://web.archive.org/web/20230328083853/https://www.markmonitor.com/ Administrative Contact: Domain Administrator Facebook, Inc. 1601 S. California Ave Palo Alto CA 94304 US domain@fb.com +1.6505434800 Fax: +1.6505434800 Technical Contact, Zone Contact: Domain Administrator Facebook, Inc. 1601 S. California Ave Palo Alto CA 94304 US domain@fb.com +1.6505434800 Fax: +1.6505434800 Created on..............: 2004-12-17. Expires on..............: 2019-12-17. Record last updated on..: 2011-10-06. Domain servers in listed order: ns3.facebook.com ns5.facebook.com ns7.facebook.com ns4.facebook.com ns6.facebook.com

Now, if you are one of the many in the situation that you can’t get to Facebook right now, you can try using one of the Internet web proxies, which will route your request through a different series of hops:

[Page no longer available – we have linked to the archive.org version instead]

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